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But Coach gave it a thought before giving an abrupt nod, clearing his throat. His eyes shot my way for a split second. “Yes. We’ll be making that change from now on.”
My nerves combusted inside of me.
Cris sat up taller, affected as well.
Then Coach yelled, “Now fucking tell me what’s going on with this damn blogger reporter person.”
12
MACKENZIE
I pulled up to a house, and as soon as I did, Maren said, “Oh, thank God.”
“What?” I was distracted, because as soon as my car stopped, the back door of the house burst open and a bunch of people streamed outside. Lauren was with them, but she was in the back. Two guys led the charge, an intensity on their faces that I couldn’t quite place if it was a good intensity or if I needed to grab Lauren and throw this car in reverse.
I was torn to do both, and that didn’t make sense.
“Maren.” Both guys went to Maren’s door. As she opened it, they pulled it wider. The blond one threw his arms around her, tucking his head into her neck. “Oh, Maren.” The other guy, who had some gorgeous dark hair, eyed both of them hungrily, tossed his cigarette to the pavement, and joined in the hug. Two other girls went to that side, but stood back, waiting for their hug to end.
Lauren came over to me, jerking her chin up, her hands in her front pockets. “Girl.” That was her greeting.
I laughed shortly as I closed the door, watching the group on the other side of my car. I stepped back next to Lauren, saying under my breath, “I’m thinking I missed some things.”
She snorted, grinning my way. “Short version highlights is that the dark-haired guy is Luis. Drummer. Kind of a smartass, but also, he’s usually right, so keep that in mind. He’s fucking the blond guy, who’s got a heart of gold and genuinely likes Maren. Everyone’s up in arms because they like Maren more than Jude.”
“Jude, her ex?”
She nodded. “Maren and Hot Boy Chavez were here earlier, caught Jude fucking another chick, who got the boot as well. So now Amber, the redhead who looks twenty-six, hasn’t lost her place in the group, but she lost her other girl hangout toy, Toya. Who, by the way, was the other chick we saw with Maren at the bar last night.”
Whoa.
My head was spinning because that was only last night? All of this had happened in one day?
But Lauren was still going. “When Maren left, Troy and Luis had a ‘come to Jesus’ moment and went inside, declaring they were kicking them both out of their friend group. Then my friend showed up.” Her eyes flitted to the other girl, who was slim with smooth brown skin, hazel eyes, and hair that had a reddish tint to it. It fell past the middle of her back, a gentle curl to it with a couple sections in small braids.
Lauren grinned my way. “I like her, like her, in case you were wondering. Her name’s Manana.”
“Is she the one obsessed with Hell Skate?” I remembered Lauren telling me that.
She nodded. “She’s friends with Troy too, which is how I know these guys, but the other recent change is that Manana is now Hell Skate’s lead singer. Though, they’ll probably have to change their name since Jude threw a fit about it, saying he gave the band that name. It was his name. Etcetera etcetera. And then you called, asking me about Rispins, who I do know, but not that well, but Troy, he really knows Rispins. Also,” she leaned close to me, her grin widening, “he hates her with a passion. You wanted dirt on her? He’s got it for you.”
This was good news, so very good news.
Lauren was reading my face and chuckled. “That’s what I’m thinking too. Are you going to tell me why you want to dig up information on this girl?”
I hesitated.
Lauren saw and moved back a step. “Not a problem. No worries.” But I felt her withdrawal.
“No.” I stopped her, touching her arm. “It’s not that. I need to pick my words because some of it’s not mine to tell.” She looked across the car, and I added, “Or Maren’s.”
“Oh.” Her eyes filled with concern. “Well, whatever it is, Troy wants in and he wants in like I’ve never seen him. He’s the nice one, but when I mentioned her name, I saw a different side to him. He needs to be in on this.”
“We’ll give the cliffs notes version to the group.”
“Okay, but then you need to send Amber packing. I don’t trust her.”
“Noted.”
